[Iran Press TV Latest] The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Washington was trying 'behind the scenes' to empower protesters disputing Iran's presidential election. In an interview with CNN aired on Sunday, Clinton said the US did not openly support the demonstrators since it did not want to act in a way that would allow the Iranian leadership to use the US support to unify the Iranian nation against the protesters.
"Now, behind the scenes, we were doing a lot," Clinton said. "We were doing a lot to really empower the protesters without getting in the way."
"We knew that if we stepped in too soon, too hard ... the leadership would try to use us to unify the country against the protesters."
The former first lady added that the US would not stop supporting those contesting the election results.
Iran became the scene of rallies after the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for another four-year term. Protests were held mainly in the capital, Tehran, with some of them turning violent and resulting in the deaths of at least 30 people.
Iran accuses Western countries in particular the US and Britain for instigating the post-election protests in the country, calling on them to adopt a policy of non-interference toward the country.
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Posted by: Fred ||
08/10/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
WTF?!? Behind the scenes? Why? Were the spineless trying not to get protesters injured or even killed ... Oh, wait, that didn't work out well, did it?
[Iran Press TV Latest] Hezbollah says any Israeli attack on Lebanon would bring a much stronger response compared to that of the 2006 war.
"If (Israeli War Minister Ehud) Barak's threats are serious--and I don't think they are--he should be aware that if he commits an error or stupid act against Lebanon ... he will discover that the months of July and August 2006 were just a bit of fun," said Hezbollah's Executive Council Chairman Hashem Safieddin.
On Thursday, Barak had said that Tel Aviv "would use all necessary force if there was a fresh conflict on its northern border with Lebanon."
Safieddin said, "Today we are powerful and this is thanks to the 2006 victory, which is why we think the Israeli threats are hollow and meaningless."
Israel fought a 34-day war with Lebanon's Hezbollah in July-August 2006, in which more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians, were killed in Lebanon while 160 were killed in Israel, most of whom were soldiers.
Lieutenant General Gaby Ashkenazi, Head of Israel's Armed Forces, warned last month against a military conflict with Lebanon, saying "Hezbollah's weapons stockpile poses a serious threat to Israel."
Posted by: Fred ||
08/10/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
See also IRAN-DAILY > HEZBOLLAH PREPARED FOR ANY CONFLICT [agz Israel]. The Hezzies Hizzies Huzzies have begun unilateral military buildup and fortifications, etc, in South Lebanon in alleged defense agz Israel's gross violations of Lebanese sovereignty, and may not wait for Israel to strike first; + BARAK: ISRAEL WILL USE ALL ITS FORCE/MIGHT IN NEXT CONFLICT [agsz Hezbollah, Lebanon, + even IRAN?] + HEZBOLlAH: ISRAEL WAGES A WAR OF NERVES AGZ IRAN AND HEZBOLLAH.
* SAME > US SOURCE: ISRAEL PLANNED TO STRIKE IRAN DURING UNREST [post-Elex Voting].
#6
#5: Nasty must have dig a bigger hole to hide in and changed his shorts. Posted by: CrazyFool
Crazy - why do you think we are rushing the new GBU-24 into production? Nasty's hole will NEVER be deep enough.
If Hezbollocks actually begins firing missiles at Israel, you might see Israel retaliate with tac nukes. They CANNOT allow Hezbollah to threaten Israeli citizens like they did in 2006. I also think Israel is absolutely fed up with the crap from the EU and our current "president", and will do what they feel they have to do to win the next war. It's going to become VERY uncomfortable to be an Arab if Hezbollah attacks Israel again.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
08/10/2009 15:41 Comments ||
Top||
#7
Big Boast, no ass behind it.
Alligator mouth, hummingbird ass.
If Hezbollocks actually begins firing missiles at Israel, you might see Israel retaliate with tac nukes.
Works for me, it might be just what's needed to shut all of them up.
The Kahrizak prison controversy lingers on as a senior lawmaker blames the Iranian Police Chief for the sordid treatment of election protestors.
Hamid-Reza Katouzian, a member of the Principlist faction that holds the majority of seats in the Parliament (Majlis), said Wednesday that Iran's Police Chief, Esmail Ahmadi-Moqaddam, is responsible for the death and abuse of detained opposition demonstrators in Kahrizak.
"Unfortunately, the gross misconduct of Kahrizak officials have resulted in the murder of scores of young people," said Katouzian. "The Iranian Police Chief is duty bound to provide a clear explanation in this regard."
Katouzian was referring to the mysterious death case of Mohammad Kamrani and Mohsen Ruholamini -- both of whom were arrested during post-election protests and died while in detention.
The death of Ruholamini, whose father Abdul-Hossein is a prominent Iranian scientist close to the country's political elite, has sparked an outcry within the Parliament.
Ahmadi-Moqaddam said Sunday that Ruholamini was not murdered, but died of "a deadly virus infection".
Katouzian was quick to reject the statement out of hand, and said there was indisputable evidence that suggested the 25-year-old was beaten to death.
"Mr. Ruholamini would like to see the murderer of his son to face justice. Whoever killed Mohsen has committed first-degree murder and should be punished accordingly," he said.
Katouzian said the Police Chief's response to the murder case is not enough, and added, "Police officials should take necessary measures towards the gross prisoner abuse in Kahrizak."
Located south of Tehran, Kahrizak became a scene of nagging controversy after grim reports surfaced about the mysterious death of some of the inmates.
According to eyewitness accounts, Kahrizak was a 'substandard detention center' where inmates were physically abused by their wardens.
The prison was subsequently ordered shut by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei two weeks ago.
The EU has lashed out at Tehran, over the trial of the British and French embassy staff, who were arrested in connection with Iran's post-election riots. "The presidency expresses its concern over the ongoing trial in Tehran in the aftermath of the election, including against two EU member states' embassy employees and one EU citizen," the statement by the EU's Swedish presidency said in a Saturday statement. "The presidency reiterates that action against one EU country, citizen or embassy staff, is considered an action against all of the EU," it added.
The EU warning came after a Saturday morning hearing at Tehran's Revolution Court, where British and French embassy staff were among the suspects facing trial. Hossein Rassam, who worked as a senior political analyst for the British Embassy in Tehran and is now facing "spying" charges, told the court that he had been gathering information on post-election unrest for the British government at the request of his superiors. "Based on the order of British embassy, the local staff were asked to be present in the riots along with [Second Secretary of British Embassy] Tom Burn and Paul Blemey," Rassam said referring to two British diplomats expelled by Iran in June.
His appearance in court has angered the UK government, which has responded by calling the trial an "unacceptable" "outrage" and the confessions unreliable. "This... contradicts assurances we had been given repeatedly by senior Iranian officials... We deplore these trials and the so-called confessions of prisoners who have been denied their basic human rights," a Foreign Office spokeswoman told reporters.
Nazak Afshar, the French Embassy worker on trial, also addressed the court, admitting that she had taken part in post-election demonstrations, sent emails containing information on the riots, and let rioters into the embassy based on orders given by her employers. She also commented on how she had been treated after her arrest, pointing out that "the brothers at the intelligence ministry", who were "very kind" to her had made her realize her mistakes.
Other than the two embassy workers, who are Iranian nationals, a detained French lecturer, also faced trial on Saturday, where she admitted to writing to the French embassy about Iran's nuclear power program and its post-vote developments. "I should not have taken part in illegal protests... I regret (my activities)... I apologize to the Iranian nation and the court and hope they will pardon me," said the 24-year-old Frenchwoman, Clotilde Reiss, while apologizing "to the Iranian nation and court".
Meanwhile, Paris urged Iran to free Reiss and Afshar. In an official statement, the French Foreign Ministry said that the espionage charges against the two were baseless. Iran has accused Britain and other Western governments of plotting the violent riots.
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Posted by: Fred ||
08/10/2009 00:00 ||
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[11132 views]
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#1
action against one EU country, citizen or embassy staff, is considered an action against all of the EU
Which is why the mullahs are quaking in their boots.
#2
If the EU were serious, they would expel every Iranian in its territory - embassy personnel, private citizens, businessmen, the ill and infirmed - just everyone that holds an Iranian passport. They would also cut all trade with the mullahs, freeze all property and cash, and embargo third-party transactions. The mullahs know Europe isn't willing to do that, so they aren't budging. You've got to be able to hurt someone before you can force them to do your will. The EU has bought this stupid idea that all you have to do is talk. Iran will end up with a nuclear weapon and the means to deliver it because of that stupid belief. That's also why they are willing to tweak Britain's nose, as they did with the incident in the Persian Gulf.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
08/10/2009 15:47 Comments ||
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[Iran Press TV Latest] The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has strongly dismissed remarks attributed to its commander on trial of defeated presidential candidates and certain other figures.
Al-Arabiya TV had quoted the IRGC commander Brigadier General Mohammad-Ali Jafari as saying that defeated presidential candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi and former President Mohammad Khatami and certain other figures should be put on trial. "What has been quoted from the IRGC commander by foreign media was not authentic," said the IRGC in a statement on Sunday. "The system of the Islamic Republic of Iran has determined legal ways to counter those who commit a crime. The judiciary will carry out its legal responsibilities," added the statement.
Continued on Page 47
Posted by: Fred ||
08/10/2009 00:00 ||
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The head of the political bureau of Iran's Revolutionary Guards said defeated challengers should be prosecuted for the recent riots. Current European Union president Sweden criticizes trials of EU embassy staffers.
A senior general of the Iranian revolutionary guards has said that top opposition leaders should be tried for having planned a coup against the Islamic establishment following the June re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the official news agency IRNA reported Sunday. Yadollah Javani, head of the guards' political bureau, demanded that Mir-Hossein Moussavi, former president Mohammad Khatami and former parliament speaker Mehdi Karroubi be put on trial.
Javani said that as Moussavi, Khatami and Karroubi were the main elements behind the unrest over the June 12 presidential vote, they should be arrested, tried and punished. Since the post-election protest movements, Khatami, Moussavi, Karroubi and also ex-president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani have become the leading opposition quartet.
In further criticism of the opposition from a senior establishment figure, General Massoud Jazayeri, a deputy commander of the Iranian Army, warned Sunday the next "coup" against Iran would be via the foreign media. "Right after the failure of the Green Coup, the foreign elements and their agents inside have started programming the next phase of the coup against Iran," he was quoted as saying by IRNA news agency. The Green Coup refers to the reform movement of Moussavi, who had chosen the color as symbol for change in Iran.
Continued on Page 47
Posted by: Fred ||
08/10/2009 00:00 ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
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Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
The head of the political bureau of Iran's Revolutionary Guards said defeated challengers should be prosecuted for the recent riots. Current European Union president Sweden criticizes trials of EU embassy staffers. 
